October 30, 2007

October 30 | Joseph W. Burrus

1958 - October 30, 1990: Age 32

Joseph Burrus was a magician who wished to perform an illusion in which he was buried alive in a plastic box of his own construction. The box was to be lowered into a hole and then covered in dirt and concrete. During the performance, however, the cement crushed the box. When the crew realized this they pulled him out, but he had died.

Why this blog?

I remember realizing one day, as a bored, depressed 21-year-old, that in the instant before my death I would give anything to have this same horrible moment back again. The insight struck me with such depth and force that the experience of boredom was virtually banished from my life.

It's hard to grasp the fact of death... our psyches are deeply conditioned to deny it. Hearing stories of the deaths of others can help wear away some of this conditioning. I'm choosing each death either because it's interesting in some way (death can come at any moment, and nobody can predict how) or because it happens to someone powerful or special (death spares nobody, not even people with special abilities).